Event

Write Bloody North Launch

Doors open at 7:00Advanced Tickets $15, Door $20 (or PWYC)What do you do when you see a group of brilliant poets wandering in the northern wild? Publish their work, of course! Canadas hottest, new publisher, Write Bloody North, launches its first wave of authors, including World Poetry Slam Champion Ian Keteku, international star Titilope Sonuga, 2-time national slam champion Brandon Wint and local darling Lucia Misch!

IAN KETEKUIan Ketekus poetry is an articulation of a generations heartbeat. A magician with syntax he conjures new realities all in an attempt to better understand our existence. Keteku is a two-time national slam champion and the 2010 World Poetry Slam champion. Keteku has showcased his poetry and art all over the world and shared stages with some of the biggest names in music and literature. He is currently preparing to launch his first full-length poetry collection with Write Bloody North entitled, Black Abacus

TITILOPE SONUGATitilope Sonuga is an award-winning poet, writer, and performer who renders both in verse and in performance, a remarkable elegance of craft, a quality of rootedness and an unflinching womanhood that has made her an internationally celebrated artistic voice. She has graced stages across Canada and the globe and is the first poet to perform at a Nigerian presidential inauguration, performing an inaugural poem in May 2015. // She was a speaker at TedxEdmonton in 2014 and served as the 2015 2016 ambassador for Intel Corporations She Will Connect Program in Nigeria, advocating for women and girls in the STEM fields. She has published two collections of poetry, a spoken word album and had her work translated into Italian, German and Slovak. Her next collection, This Is How We Disappear, is forthcoming in 2019.

BRANDON WINTBrandon Wint is a nationally acclaimed poet, spoken word artist and arts educator based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Brandons work as a writer exemplifies a deep attention to the craft of poetry, the nuances of language, and the social power of words. As a performer, Brandon Wint displays the poise, passion and spiritual generosity of one who has graced stages across the country at music festivals, conferences, universities and grassroots events alike. Brandon is a poet whose work has garnered praise and attention in a variety of mediums. He is a two-time Canadian national poetry slam champion. In print, he is the author of one chapbook, Love, Our Master (In/Words Magazine and Press, 2014) and was a contributor to the only comprehensive anthology of Black Canadian poetry, The Great Black North (Frontenac House, 2012). Brandon has also released three recording projects, including Devotion EP (2015), The Long Walk Home (2016), and his most recent album, Infinite Mercies, which he showcased at the second annual Black Arts Matter festival in February of 2018. His first book of poetry, Divine Animal, is forthcoming from Write Bloody North in autumn 2019.

LUCIA MISCHLucia Misch is a writer and performer from the Bay Area. She has presented her work across North America, on stages ranging from literary festivals to union conventions to local poetry slams, and her writing has been published in print and online. A veteran arts educator, Lucia facilitates writing workshops for youth with WordPlay: Poetry In Schools, as an ArtStarts Poet in Residence, and a teaching artist at creative arts camps along the West Coast. She lives and works on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh people.

Accessibility Information for the Wise Hall:

This event is a scent-reduced space. To assist us in our goal of increased access, please be aware of our attempt to reduce the impact of personal scented products (perfumes, scented oils, etc) in our festival spaces.

Youll note on arrival a set of 10 railed stairs leading into the Hall. The wheelchair accessible entrance is around back. For this event, there will be someone posted at the back door throughout the event.

Once inside, you'll find a spacious wood-floored hall, open concept, tables and chairs set up throughout. The stage (accessible only via stairs) is to your left, and the washrooms towards the back of the hall. The washrooms are currently gendered but will be marked gender neutral for Verses. There are two sets of washrooms. The one to the right of the car, currently mark women is wheelchair accessible with no urinals and one additional stall. The one to the left of the bar, currently mark men, is on the same level and is now wheelchair accessible, with 2 urinals and one wheelchair accessible stall and one non-wheelchair access stall. The door has been adjusted to more easily fit wheelchair/scooter users. Overall the space is great.